SAN FRANCISCO – Gary Payton II normally concludes his Warriors press conferences by saying “you guys are great” to the assembled media.
But following Friday morning’s follow, the jovial wing appeared immediately into the rolling digicam and gave a transparent order to your complete area.
“Go watch Mack, alright?” Payton declared. “Everybody, wake up in the Bay, and watch Mack.”
Less than 24 hours earlier than the 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini leads Canada into an 5 a.m. PST Olympic Gold medal match with the USA in Italy, Payton predicted that those that wakened for the early puck drop would take pleasure in watching one of many sport’s all-time greats.
“That kid’s just unreal, and I feel like he end’s up being one of those. You know, when it’s all said and done, it will be like Wayne (Gretzky), Sid (Crosby), Alex (Ovechkin), Mac,” Payton II stated.
Members of each the Warriors teaching workers and roster couldn’t wait to share tales in regards to the hockey child who grew up across the basketball franchise earlier than being chosen No. 1 general by the native San Jose Sharks in 2024.
Celebrini’s father Rick, Golden State’s vp of participant well being and medication, has been with the Warriors since 2018. It appeared as if everybody who has been related to the group had good recollections of younger Macklin.
Coach Steve Kerr recalled watching Celebrini play in fullcourt pickup video games in opposition to mom Robyn and older brother Aiden and youthful sister Charlie on the workforce’s previous Oakland facility.
“It’s one of the fun parts of the job, seeing the families be a part of it,” Kerr stated. “One of my great memories of my playing career was when my kids were able to be involved.”
Watching Macklin star in-person for Canada has been Rick and your complete household, however the Warriors have been supporting him stateside too.
“Yesterday at the film session, we had half the team watching the final two minutes of the game because it was 2-2,” Kerr stated. “Even though it was 10 o’clock and we’re supposed to be starting film, it was like ‘Nope we’re gonna watch to see what happens.’ Everybody is engaged, especially the guys who have been here for a while and who know Rick so well.”
Moses Moody went for a extra humorous method when remembering Macklin’s time round Golden State.
He referenced a well-liked on-line meme about LeBron James predicting somebody’s inconceivable future success, earlier than saying that the great hockey genes didn’t cease with Macklin.
“The youngest brother (RJ), I talked to him for a while and he really does have this silent confidence and competitiveness and composure,” Moody stated. “I’m really saying it beforehand with this one, that he’s got that look in his eye.”
Celebrini’s rise to stardom has been meteoric since departing the Bay Area for one season at Boston University as a 17-year-old.
After a stellar rookie season, Celebrini has grow to be the most effective gamers on this planet in his second go-around. He has 81 factors (28 targets, 53 assists) in 55 video games, and has even been within the dialog for the Hart Trophy (the NHL’s model of the MVP award) for a thrilling and resurgent Sharks workforce that’s 27-24-4.
Now, he’s main Canada in opposition to the USA. But will the Warriors’ private reference to Macklin be sufficient to have their American gamers pulling for Canada? Moody wouldn’t go that far..
“That’s a good question,” Moody stated whereas shrugging.
